OTT: Home builders celebrate; Savages host open house

From left, Deby Buerk, Fran Anderson, Kim Laclair, Sue Savage, and Nancy Alter at the Savage family's annual open house.

The Home Builders Association hosted its annual holiday banquet, change of the guard, and presentation of the sales and marketing awards Dec. 3 at the Pinnacle.

Outgoing president is Jim Moline and the incoming president is Tom Bogdan.

PHOTO GALLERY: ON THE TOWN: Home Builders Association holiday banquet

The wise men were beckoned by the star, but guests of Bob and Sue Savage were guided by the giant decorated tree in their front yard for the annual Christmas open house. Mr. Savage said it is the 36th year of decorating the outside tree, which was as tall as the house at the first open house; now it is approximately 60 feet tall. The massive undertaking is done on Thanksgivng weekend by the grandchildren and their parents.

Indoors on Dec. 17, guests were greeted by the coat-check girls, grandaughters Christy, Amy, Sarah, and Megan Ohlinger, all decked in red.

Then it was a warm night of holiday cheer, tasty treats, and delightful conversation. Setting the festive scene was a towering Colorado spruce, cut down two weeks earlier at the Savage farm in Morenci, Mich.

Among the guests were Bishop Leonard Blair, Bishop Robert Donnelly, Father Martin Donnelly, Father James Cryan, Bill and Sara Jane DeHoff, Cathy and Bill Carroll, John and Elizabeth Gorski, Brian and Mary Kennedy, Carol and George Koury, Marilyn and Pat McAlear, Kay and Jim Murray, Annette and Joe Napoli, Lillian and Roger Peluso, Suzie and Mickey Rosenberg, Carolyn and Sean Savage, Penny and Steve Staelin, and Yolanda and John Szuch.